The Microscopic fungi Are organisms of very small size and form part of the Fungi kingdom. They may be unicellular or multicellular, such as yeasts and molds, respectively.
Their nutrition is heterotrophic, so they need to be nourished with elaborate organic substances. These make external digestion by enzymes that secrete.
Candida albicans, microscopic fungus
After digestion, they absorb the nutrients. They may be parasitic (they feed on their host: ringworm, ergot, athlete's foot), saprophytes (feeding on decomposing matter) or symbiotic (algae forming lichens or plant roots in microarrays).
The fungi are branched and generally filamentous. They lack chlorophyll but have rigid cell walls where they contain chitin and / or cellulose. They are mostly terrestrial.
The Fungi kingdom or kingdom of the fungi counts on about 611,000 species, number even greater than the one of the plants (that count on about 212,000 species).
Not only do fungi have a wide range of variety, sizes and shapes, but also a lot of important uses and functions that regulate the ecosystem and even certain processes of the human body.
In this case, we will study different species of fungi that are not so easy to see with the naked eye.
They are called microscopic fungi and some of them have very interesting and peculiar roles in some specific conditions.
List of the most outstanding microscopic fungi
Candida Albicans
It is a saprophytic yeast (classified as an asexual diploid fungus) that proliferates only within the human body.
It is usually found in moist areas of the body, such as the mouth, the small and large intestines and the vagina.
It is usually held at bay by the immune system and in fact plays a beneficial role in the processing of sugars during digestion.
However, if for any reason (such as low defenses or eating disorders) the fungus grows excessively, it can generate a fungal disease called Candidiasis (for example, it is very common to see this developed in HIV patients, who already have a Your immune system).
This disease produces different conditions in the areas where the fungus is lodged, such as vaginitis, vaginal fungi and infections in the skin, the oral cavity or intestinal tract.
Penicillium chrysogenum
This is a species of fungi of the family Trichocomaceae best known for being the best producer of various metabolites, among which are the antibiotic beta-lactam penicillin, discovered by accident by the famous British scientist Alexander Fleming in 1928.
It is necessary to remember that this medicine is used to treat diseases that were believed incurables until their discovery after beginning the century XX.
Cryptococcus neoformans
This fungus can live in plants and animals. It is a monomorphic fungus that is transmitted by inhalation.
It is often found in bird droppings like pigeons. In humans it can lead to pulmonary cryptococcosis and atypical acute pneumonia. The main disease is meningitis.
Aspergillus
It is filamentous and is made up of chains of cells called hyphae. Its natural habitat is hay and also usually develops in soil on decomposing matter.
It is often found with ease and its role is very important in the degradation of organic matter. It can be found in hospitals, the floor, building material, among other places.
In humans, this fungus usually causes onychomycosis (nail infection), otomycosis (ear infection), allergic sinusitis, among other diseases.
Trichophyton rubrum
It is an anthropophilic dermatophyte fungus that usually causes diseases such as athlete's foot and ringworm.
It was described in the year 1845 for the first time and its development can be slow or moderately fast.
Rhizopus nigricans
This is a mold with spores found in the bread. It belongs to the genus Rhizopus, to which belong the aerial hemispheric columnar sporangia fungi.
Alternaria alternata
This particular fungus is characterized by being pathogenic.
It can cause leaf moths and diseases in various plant species, such as rotting and discoloration.
In people it can cause infections in the upper respiratory tract in addition to asthma.
Mucor corymbilfer
This fungus species is saprophytic and lives on the ground. It is usually found in moldy bread and decaying potatoes.
Mucor mucedo
Like the previous species, this fungus is saprophyte and it is common to find it in the soil. It is the cause of putrefaction of baked foods, fruits and insects.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meyen
This unicellular fungus is the yeast used in industries to make food such as bread, beer and wine.
Their life cycle alternates between the haploid and diploid forms. His way of reproduction is asexual.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
It is a species of yeast, a single-celled fungus that is used as a model study organism in molecular biology and cell biology to study the cell cycle.
It is also called"fission yeast"in English, a kind of yeast. It measures 3 to 4 micrometers in diameter and its shape is like that of a cane.
In 1893 it was isolated for the first time from an African beer. In the Swahili language, its name means beer.
References
- Crowson, R. (1970). Classification and Biology . USA: Transaction Publisher.
- Hudson, H. (1992). Fungal Biology . UK: CUP Archive.
- Kavanagh, K. (2011). Fungi : Biology and Applications. UK: John Wiley & Sons.
- Muntañola, M. (1999). Guide to microscopic fungi. Spain: Omega.
- Prats, G. (2006). Clinical Microbiology. Spain: Medical Pan American Edition.
- Stefoff, R. (2007). The fungus Kingdom. USA: Marshall Cavendish.
- Ulloa, M., Mier, T. (2002). Microscopic fungi saprobios and parasites. Mexico: UNAM.